Prof's Book Promotes Learning by Doing

Experiential learning is crucial for college students, not only so they can receive hands-on experience in their chosen professions, but because it actually provides their brains with a different and perhaps better way of absorbing new material.

Brandy Eggan, Ph.D., teaching assistant professor of anatomy/physiology at Siena, is a specialist in neuroscience, as is her post-doctoral advisor James R. Stellar, Ph.D., of the University at Albany. They have co-authored Professional Wisdom: What a College Student's Brain and Career Need to explore the combination of intellectual and intuitive reasoning that grows out of both academic knowledge and practical application."

The book was published in August by Ideapress, and just received a positive write up in Kirkus Reviews.

"People need to do things to learn them," said Eggan. "Our whole focus of the book is very basic: You can sit in a classroom for a thousand hours and learn about a subject or you can go out and actually do it. Professional wisdom develops in real-world contexts."

The publication of the book is timely, as the concept of experiential learning is currently receiving a lot of attention in higher education. Hands-on learning - whether through an internship, serving the community, study abroad or other option - is a crucial part of a Siena education, which is promoted to prospective and current students.

"You need an experience as part of your college education and we have a lot of different options here at Siena to support what is learned in the classrooms," she said,

Eggan and Stellar previously co-authored Diversity at College, published in 2020.

McKenzie David '26 is in Siena's dual-degree nursing program, and agrees that experiential learning is "so critical" for students in this field for many reasons.

"Most importantly, it helps us develop higher-level critical thinking skills, which strengthen our ability to problem-solve in authentic situations," said David. "It also helps us to build our confidence and develop skills that directly relate to the field, providing us with career preparation."